Age Children Research Articles

Frequency of Gastrointestinal Parasites, Anemia, and Nutritional Status among Children from Different Geographical Regions of Bolivia.

The study aimed to measure the frequency of occurrence of infections with helminths, protozoa, and risk factors of undernutrition and anemia among schoolchildren from the Bolivian highland (altiplano) and lowland (subtropical) rural regions, with a high frequency of gastrointestinal parasite infections. Cross-sectional data were collected from 790 children, 5-13 years old. Microscopic examination of stool using the Ritchie technique, hemoglobin testing using the HemoCue analyzer, and anthropometric measurements were performed. Over 60% and 20% of children were infected with protozoa and helminth parasites, respectively. Infections caused by pathogenic Hymenolepis nana (15.7-5.2%), Ascaris lumbricoides (41.9-28.5%), Giardia lamblia (30.1-11.2%), Entamoeba histolytica (5.7-0.7%), and nonpathogenic Entamoeba coli (48.9-16%), Blastocystis hominis (40.2-28.5%), Iodamoeba butschli (16.1-2.5%), Chilomastix mesnili (19.2-7.3%), and Entamoeba histolytica/dispar (7.4-5.5%) parasites, were more prevalent in the highlands than the lowlands. Single parasitic infections were more prevalent in the lowlands; polyparasitism of light or heavy intensity predominated in the highlands. A strongly increased risk of anemia and a low prevalence of wasting were determined in children in the highlands. A higher risk for stunting was associated with children of older age, and a low burden of intestinal helminths would prevent wasting in children of highlands. Infections with A. lumbricoides and G. lamblia pathogens in older children were not significant covariates for stunting. Environmental, nutritional, and parasitic factors may predispose to anemia in the highlands. A nutritional intervention and parasite control effort will substantially improve children´s health in the highlands.

Brain metabolic profile assessed by magnetic resonance spectroscopy in ‎‎children with Down syndrome: Relation to intelligence quotient.

Down syndrome (DS) is one of the most common causes of intellectual disability. Children with DS have varying intelligence quotient (IQ) that can predict their learning abilities. To assess the brain metabolic profiles of children with DS and compare them to standard controls, using magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) and correlating the results with IQ. This case-control study included 40 children with DS aged 6-15 years and 40 age and sex-matched healthy children as controls. MRS was used to evaluate ratios of choline/creatine (Cho/Cr), N-acetyl aspartic acid/creatine (NAA/Cr), and myoinositol/creatine (MI/Cr (in the frontal, temporal, and occipital lobes and basal ganglia and compared to controls and correlated with IQ. Children with DS showed significant reductions in NAA/Cr and MI/Cr and a non-significant reduction in Cho/Cr in frontal lobes compared to controls. Additionally, we observed significant decreases in NAA/Cr, MI/Cr, and Cho/Cr in the temporal and occipital lobes and basal ganglia in children with DS compared to controls. Furthermore, there was a significant correlation between IQ and metabolic ratios in the brains of children with DS. Brain metabolic profile could be a good predictor of IQ in children with DS.

Prevalence and patterns of executive function, adaptive function, and behavioral outcomes in preschool and school age children with congenital diaphragmatic hernia

BackgroundExecutive function, adaptive function, and behavioral outcomes in congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) survivors have not been well studied. AimTo evaluate executive and neurobehavioral dysfunction in preschool and early school-aged children with CDH. Study designRetrospective cohort study. SubjectsAll eligible CDH survivors ages 3 to 7 years enrolled in our follow-up program between February 2020 and February 2021. Outcome measuresThe Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF), the Adaptive Behavior Assessment System, 2nd Edition (ABAS-II), and the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) were used to assess functional and behavioral outcomes. Summary scores were compared to standard population norms. ResultsA total of 100 patients were enrolled during the study period. Of those, 73 parents completed at least one of the questionnaires, resulting in completion of the BRIEF, ABAS-II, and CBCL for 63, 68, and 63 patients, respectively. Preschool children had normal executive function (BRIEF-P) while global executive composite (P = 0.012) and the emotional regulation index (P = 0.010) for school age patients (BRIEF-2) were worse. CDH survivors had favorable adaptive functioning (ABAS-II). Mean CBCL scores for preschool attention problems (P = 0.018), school age attention problems (P = 0.001), and attention deficits hyperactivity problems (P = 0.027) were significantly worse. Prematurity, surrogate markers of disease severity, non-white race, and public insurance status were associated with worse neurobehavioral dysfunction in bivariable analysis. ConclusionsThe majority of preschool and school age CDH survivors have age-appropriate executive, adaptive and behavioral functioning. CDH survivors, however, have lower executive function and attention scores compared with the general population.

ANALYSIS OF THE PSYCHO-EMOTIONAL STATE OF UKRAINIANS AND ASPECTS OF PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSISTANCE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE CURRENT WAR

Purpose. This study aims to characterize the psychoemotional states of Ukrainians and aspects of providing psychological assistance at the beginning of the current war, the first two months, based on the analysis of scientific sources, statistical data, and the results of empirical research.
 Methods. To achieve this aim, we used the following research methods: generalized and comparative-systemic analysis of scientific sources, systematization and modelling of research results, comprehensive analysis of the experience of psychologists working within volunteer projects, concealed population surveys based on the Raven questionnaire (Raven, 1997), methods of mathematical statistics, statistical analysis of data from the Telegram channel «SvitloPodiya», analysis of private and publicly available posts in online event chats and social networks, the use of standardized questionnaires and narrative writing, as well as the design of a cross-sectional study. We used Statistica 12 software and the Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count (LIWC-2015) software for statistical analysis.
 Results. The study revealed that factors influencing the deterioration of the psychoemotional state of Ukrainians included job loss or the inability to attend work or school, increased free time due to inactivity, loneliness, insufficient information about behaviour rules during bombardments, alarm signals and shelter, a low culture of seeking help from psychologists, parents' inability to explain the war situation to children. Typical negative characteristics of the population's psychoemotional state at the beginning of the war in Ukraine were latent depression, mass anger, various types of fear, egoism, maximum self-concern, a demonstrative need for attention through hysterics and panic attacks, and more.
 Conclusions. Improvements in the psychoemotional state of the population were facilitated by measures including structured and active work, especially volunteer work, positive messages and video recommendations via social media, positive text messages every morning, guidance on social media for self-regulation and emotional management, the efforts of volunteer Telegram channels and other programs for volunteer psychological support, as well as specially designed psycho-pedagogical sessions for children of different ages. Especially designed are online classes for students, daily supervision by educators and psychologists, the application of a psycho-pedagogical approach in education, the dissemination of psycho-pedagogical recommendations to educators, psychologists, and parents, and hosting accompanying webinars, online and in-person training sessions on identifying and addressing symptoms of anxiety disorders and panic attacks, and stabilising the psychoemotional state of individuals of all ages, among other initiatives. The importance of modernising and promoting the effectiveness of social and psychological services in Ukraine is emphasised. It is recommended that self-regulation skills for regulating psychoemotional states be taught from preschool age and introduced to compulsory classes in both general and higher education institutions.

Pattern of Antimicrobial Resistance Amongst Pathogens Isolated from Children’s Blood at a Private Diagnostic Clinic in Sylhet District of Bangladesh

The incidence of antibiotic-resistant sepsis in children, particularly multidrug-resistant (MDR) sepsis, is increasing day by day. The aim of this study is to describe the pattern of antimicrobial resistance amongst pathogens isolated from blood sepsis of children. This descriptive type of cross-sectional study was carried out in the Microbiology Section of the Popular Diagnostic Centre, Sylhet from April to October 2021. Data were collected from the data record software at centre. All the blood culture positive reports of children of age 0-120 months were collected and antibiotic sensitivity tests were done to identify different organisms. Patients with incomplete data were excluded from this study. A total of 83 patient reports were appraised and data were analyzed by Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 22. According to the reports majority of the children (59%) were male and male female ratio was 1.4:1. Mean age of the children was 16.54±26.4 months (Mean±SD). About one third (33%) of children were within 1 month, 60 % were between 31 to 60 days, and 7.2% within more than 60 days. Most frequent (72.3%) organisms were gram positive, among them nearly half (49.4%) of the organisms were Staphylococcus aureus. More than one fourth (27.7%) of the organisms were gram negative, among them E. Coli was common organism and found in 15.7% of the cultures specimen of children. Here we found Azithromycin, Ceftazidime, Ceftriaxone and Colistin were resistant in most of the gram-positive cases and in gram-negative cases most of the antibiotic were resistant, where Ceftazidime was resistant in all cases. Nearly two-third (64%) of the organisms were multidrug resistant (MDR), 6% were extensively drug-resistant (XDR) and none were pan-drug resistant. About 61% Staphylococcus spp, 77% of E. coli, 43% of Klebsiella were MDR. The majority of sepsis in children are MDR, with Staphylococcus spp. and E. coli being the most common organism. Anti-microbial resistance surveillance and farther large scale studies are now crucial to revise the National Antibiotic Guideline. Bangladesh Med J. 2022 May; 51(2): 30-36

Medical and Socio-Pedagogical Risks of Primary School Children Using Digital Devices: An Empirical Study

The study considers the medical and socio-pedagogical risks of primary school children using digital devices and social networks, based on the results of a medical and social study, the purpose of which was to assess and systematize these risks. The digital devices, the Internet and activities on social networks have become an integral part of the lives of modern children. However, their use can negatively affect the neuropsychic status of the child and lead to problems with vision and the musculoskeletal system. For this reason, parental control over the use of gadgets and social networks that is safe for children’s health is very important. The methodological basis of the research was social pedagogy, which explores the processes of interaction of a growing person with various objects of society in the main spheres of his/her life: family, educational and social, performing an integrating function in the study of current social problems of children, families and society by various scientific disciplines. A complex of research methods was used, with the main one being a questionnaire survey of parents with children of primary school age and living in the Borovsky district of the Kaluga region (the research base of the Research Institute of Hygiene and Health Protection of Children and Adolescents, National Medical Research Center for Children’s Health of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation). It was found that watching videos is a risk of increased irritability, computer games, searching for information on the Internet, uncontrolled use of digital media - a risk of visual impairment, using social networks - complaints for communication difficulties. More than 50% of parents need help from specialists in improving digital literacy and using digital devices safely for children’s health.

The Influence of Various Types of Play on the Development of Coherent Monologue Speech in Children Aged 5-6 Years

Coherent monologue speech is one of the main factors determining both school performance and social success of children. Therefore, problems related to methods and techniques for developing coherent monologue speech in children still remain relevant. It is often recommended to use various types of play activities (i.e., games) for this purpose. However, the question remains whether all of them have an equally positive impact on the development of coherent speech in such an aspect as its macrostructure (coherence, cohesion, semantic completeness, narrative structure). For this reason, the purpose of this study is to find out how different types of play affect the speech development in children of senior preschool age. According to our preliminary hypothesis, the development of semantic elements of a story is most influenced by role-playing games. Our study involved 220 preschoolers ( M = 60.84 months; SD = 4.14 months) who were randomly assigned to seven groups in which they either participated in a series of games of a certain type, or listened to additional stories, or were not exposed to experimental treatment at all. Before and after the exposure, the children made up stories based on a series of pictures. The resulting stories were evaluated in terms of their macrostructure. The groups were then compared in terms of the impact that different types of play interaction had on the development of the macrostructure of coherent speech. It was found that the best effect was shown by the role-playing games, and, first of all, ‘directed’ ones. These results allow a more reasonable approach to the use of games for the development of coherent monologue speech in children aged 5-6 years.

Children's social life space during a pandemic - a research report from rural areas

The article presents qualitative research on the social relations of rural children during the Covid-19 pandemic and their agency in this regard. The research material was collected through focus group interviews with children aged 7 and 9 from two villages in north-eastern Poland. As a result of the research, their social contacts in the space of home, school and backyard were characterized. It was found that the children experienced relatively limited solitude, being always in contact with family members and peers from the neighborhood. Staying at school is the basis for expanding the social relations of children in the countryside. Early school age children prefer direct contacts and the media did not constitute a satisfactory field of social relations during the pandemic. Parents and the school limited the agency of children during the pandemic.

Sekundum Atriyal Septal Defektli Çocuklarda Galektin-3

Aim: There is a limited number of studies on the role of galectin-3 as a cardiac biomarker in the pediatric population. We aimed to investigate galectin-3 level and its relationship with N-terminal prohormone of brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) in children with secundum atrial septal defect (ASD).
 
 Material and Methods: Twenty-seven patients with secundum ASD formed the patient group. Thirty healthy children of similar age and gender formed the control group. The largest ASD diameter measured from any window with transthoracic echocardiography was recorded as the ASD size. Blood samples were collected for NT-ProBNP and galectin-3.
 
 Results: Children with secundum ASD had significantly higher NT-ProBNP levels compared with the healthy children (p=0.003). Galectin-3 levels of children with secundum ASD were similar to those of the healthy children (p=0.377). There was a statistically positive correlation between galectin-3 and NT-ProBNP levels in children with secundum ASD (rho=0.454, p=0.017). The area under the curve of galectin-3 was not statistically significant (AUC=0.537; p=0.643).
 
 Conclusion: Although there was an increase in NT-ProBNP level in patients with secundum ASD, galectin-3 level did not change. Although NT-ProBNP was a valuable biomarker for the prediction of secundum ASD, galectin-3 had no role in predicting this disease.

"God gave you a special child because you are special": difficulties, coping strategies, and parental burnout of Jewish mothers - a qualitative study.

"Parental Burnout" is a specific syndrome resulting from an imbalance between continuous exposure to chronic parenting stress and available protective resources. Mothers of children with special needs have an increased risk of Parental Burnout due to dealing with various difficulties from carrying out long-term childcare. To examine difficulties, coping strategies, and PB (risk factors and protective resources), among ultra-Orthodox and non-Orthodox Jewish mothers of children with special needs with high or low levels of Parental Burnout. A qualitative study. Twelve mothers of children with special needs identified with high or low Parental Burnout via a quantitative study were interviewed. The constant-comparative analysis method was used to analyze the findings. Three themes and twelve categories emerged: 1. Difficulties involved in motherhood with six categories: (a) caregiver burden, (b) task overload, (c) physical and mental self-neglect, (d) environmental, couple-hood, family and social neglect, (e) recognizing the gap between their child with special needs and other children of the same age, (f) the environment's contradictory expectations from the mother; 2. Coping strategies with four categories: (a) practical, (b) spiritual, (c) social and (d) emotional; and 3. Parental Burnout, consequences and coping with two categories: (a) personal and environmental risk factors (e.g., fear of the future, difficulty in trusting others in taking care of their child), and (b) personal and environmental protective resources (e.g., sharing similar circumstances with other mothers, a belief in God). The findings contribute to understanding the unique difficulties, coping strategies and differences in risk factors and protective resources of Parental Burnout among ultra-Orthodox and non-Orthodox Jewish mothers of children with special needs. In order to alleviate the difficulties experienced by mothers and thus also reduce Parental Burnout risk factors and provide effective protective resources, it is recommended to develop empirically based professional guidance for policymakers, child development specialists, nurses, physiotherapists, and informal caregivers.

Effects of 0.01% Atropine Eye Drops on Controlling Myopia Progression in School Age Children in Ophthalmology Department of a Tertiary Care Hospital

Purpose: To determine the effects of 0.01% atropine eye drops in controlling myopia progression in school age children presenting to Ophthalmology Department of a Tertiary Care Hospital. Study Design: Quasi experimental study. Place & Duration of Study: Department of ophthalmology Jinnah postgraduate Medical Center, JPMC Karachi and Advance Eye Clinic Karachi, Pakistan from July 2018 to July 2020. Methods: One hundred myopic patients (myopia of 0.5D to 13.0D) with age range of 6 – 14 years were recruited. Patients with astigmatism <-2.0D, other ocular or medical disease and history of laser or ocular surgery were excluded. Atropine group was instructed to instill Atropine 0.01% once at night time. Control group did not receive any treatment. Refraction was performed at all examinations with and without Cycloplegia along with fundoscopy and axial length measurements. The follow up frequency was at 3 monthly intervals. Data was analyzed using SPSS 22. To compare quantitative data between groups, t-test was used while for qualitative data Chi-square test was used. Results: Mean age was 9.21 ± 2.45 years. Out of 100, 57 were males. There was no statistical difference between atropine group vs control group in terms of baseline SER (spherical equivalent refraction), (p = 0.407) and baseline axial length (p = 0.892). Mean difference in SER from baseline to after completion of study two groups was statistically significant (p < 0.001). Mean difference in AL from baseline to end of study between two groups was also statistically significant (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Low concentration atropine 0.01% can be helpful in halting myopia progression.

Upaya Peningkatan Pengetahuan dan Perilaku Hidup Bersih dan Sehat Pada Anak Di Desa Curah Cottok, Kec. Kapongan, Kabupaten Situbondo, Jawa Timur

Cleanliness is the main key to improving health, especially for children. The hands are the part of the body that is first exposed to the external environment, because everything will be touched or held by the hands. This situation is the main gate for germs/viruses/bacteria to enter the body, as well as teeth. So if hand and teeth hygiene cannot be maintained properly, the body will easily be attacked by disease which will disrupt the child's growth and development process. This health education is provided with the aim of helping to increase knowledge and behavior of clean and healthy living in children. The methods used are: lecture, discussion and demonstration. Participants in this activity are school age children in Curah Cottok village, Situbondo.

Can we preserve the necrotic testis caused by incarcerated inguinal hernia in infants under 3months?

This study aims to investigate whether necrotic testis resulting from incarcerated inguinal hernias can be preserved in infants under 3months old. A retrospective analysis was conducted on data collected from infants under 3months old who had necrotic testis caused by incarcerated inguinal hernias between 2016 and 2020. They were divided into two groups: the orchiectomy group and the testicular preservation group. The control group consisted of normal male children of the same age. Data regarding bilateral testicular volume, dihydrotestosterone, inhibin B, and antisperm antibodies were collected. The study included 42 cases, with 18 patients being followed up for 6-54months after the operation. In the testicular preservation group, 2 children did not experience testicular atrophy. There was no significant difference in the volume of the contralateral testes between the testicular preservation group and the control group; however, both groups had smaller testicular volumes compared to the orchiectomy group. There was no significant difference in the levels of inhibin B between the testicular preservation group and the orchiectomy group, although both were lower than the control group. Furthermore, no significant difference was observed in the levels of dihydrotestosterone and the positivity rate of antisperm antibodies among the three groups. Preserving the necrotic testis may allow it to survive without impacting the contralateral testis. Therefore, a more conservative approach should be considered for orchiectomy when dealing with testicular necrosis caused by incarcerated inguinal hernias in infants.

The effect of screen time on hearing and balance in 6–16 aged children

Background The increase in screen time and the decrease in physical- activity cause balance problems as well as many systemic handicaps. Aims/Objectives This study aimed to determine the effect of screen time on balance and the effect of headphone usage time on hearing. Method Thirty-four individuals aged 6–16 years who applied to our clinic with complaints of dizziness and/or balance disorder were included in the study. Participants were divided into 2 groups according to their screen time: Group 1 (4–8 h/day) and Group2(>8 h/day). The other two groups are grouped according to headphone usage time as Group A (2–4 h/day) and Group B (>4hours/day). Pure-tone audiometry, extended high frequency-audiometry, Videonystagmography (VNG) and Computerized Dynamic Posturography (CDP) tests and Pediatric Berg Balance Scale and Visual Analogue Scale were applied to all individuals. CDP scores and pure tone hearing thresholds between groups were compared. Results A significant difference was observed between Group 1 and Group 2 according to the CDP test (visual, vestibular and composite scores), and according to the VAS-dizziness and PBS (p ≤ .05). Pure tone average and pure tone thresholds at high frequencies were compared between Group A and Group B according to headphone usage time. Pure tone thresholds of Group B were worse at high frequencies than Group A (p ≤ .05). Conclusions It has been observed that prolonged screen time may cause balance impairment in children and prolonged use of headphones may affect high-frequency hearing thresholds.

Demographics and Clinical Characteristics Assessment of Severe Acute Toxic Ingestions in Pediatric Patients: A Single-Center Study in Jilin Province of China.

This study aimed to describe the demographic and clinical characteristics of severe acute toxic ingestions in children in Jilin Province and provide a reference for seeking effective measures to prevent poisoning accidents. The clinical data of patients diagnosed with acute toxic ingestions and who presented with severe life-threatening symptoms or organ dysfunction at the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit of the First Hospital of Jilin University were retrospectively analyzed. Patients with incomplete clinical medical records, unclear toxic substance, and loss to follow-up within 6 months of discharge are excluded. We sorted out these children's demographic characteristics, types of poisoning, clinical manifestations, treatment process, and follow-up, etc. This study enrolled 141 cases with no significant differences in sex and region; adolescents accounted for 44.68%. The most common poisons were pesticides and insecticides for rural areas and internal medication for urban areas. With poisoning details as a grouping variable, there was no statistical difference between sex groupings (χ2 = 6.018, P = 0.198) and no difference between region groups (χ2 = 3.775, P = 0.289). However, there were statistical differences between age groups (χ2 = 28.22, P = 0.001). In this research, patients younger than 6 years are mainly unintentionally poisoned, whereas the suicide rate of the urban group (P < 0.05), adolescents (P < 0.01), and girls (P < 0.01) has increased significantly; moreover, the suicide group is more likely to take more overdose medication or pesticides and insecticides (P < 0.01). In addition, there was a statistical difference between suicide and length of intensive care unit stay (r = 0.268, P < 0.01). A total of 90.78% of the patients were successfully discharged after comprehensive treatment. Children aged younger than 12 years had good psychological and intellectual development during the follow-up period, whereas adolescents diagnosed with depression often required long-term psychological and medication intervention. This study identified poisoning details in different ages, regions, and sex of acute severe oral poisoning in children from Jilin Province. The results presentation of different prevention priorities should vary among children of different ages and emphasize adolescent suicide being a reality in Jilin Province. There is an urgent need for further culture-specific research in this area.

Wielokulturowość w perspektywie uczniów edukacji wczesnoszkolnej w Polsce i Islandii

In recent years, Poland has witnessed a gradual increase of foreign cultures, which is inextricably linked to a new challenge for educational institutions. On the one hand, schools have to face the influx of students for whom the Polish language and culture is not their mother tongue; on the other hand, they have to prepare Polish students for encounters with elements of culture other than their own, i.e. language, customs, traditions or religion. The article presents the results of a Polish-Icelandic research project, the aim of which was to learn the views of students of early childhood education on multiculturalism. Quantitative (diagnostic survey) and qualitative (content analysis) methods were used in the research. The research group consisted of 141 students, 71 from Poland and 70 from Iceland. The research was conducted from June 2022 to March 2023. The results showed that both the place of residence and the educational experience (Iceland has successfully applied systemic solutions to the integration of foreigners for many years) have a significant impact on how students understand and define multiculturalism. Of interest to the researchers were the analyses showing that, regardless of their place of residence, children of early school age are characterised by an open attitude towards intercultural contacts. Early school children are curious about other cultures, they want to exchange experiences and develop their knowledge in the field of intercultural education.

Assessment Of Women’s Knowledge And Perceptions On Anaemia- An Intervention With Nutrition Education

Background: Anemia and iron deficiency adversely affect women of reproductive age and young children in middle and low-income countries. It is considered a major health problem worldwide. In India, the prevalence of anemia is very high, about 53% of women are suffering from anemia. The Government of India and other research institutes have been promoting nutrition education to increase knowledge and awareness of dietary habits and intake, health and nutritional status among women. The present study aimed to determine the effectiveness of nutrition education on iron deficiency anemia among women of reproductive age. Methods: An experimental (pre-posttest) research design was selected for the study. The respondents were categorized into experimental groups and control groups. A total of 300 women were selected from five villages. A structured questionnaire was used to collect the data and the data was analyzed using SPSS. Results: The results revealed that the majority of the respondents were within the age group of 15–26 years, had a high school education, and had mild anemia. The study found that the nutritional education intervention had a significant increase in the scores of knowledge and perception levels of the respondents in the experimental group.

Fragments of Amyloid Precursor Protein in Urine Are Novel and Practical Biomarkers for Early Screening of Dementia

AbstractBackgroundIt has been shown that Aß is a normal component in urine (Ghiso et al, FEBS Lett, 1997) and may change with disease status (Takata et al, Neurosci Lett, 2008), however, research on amyloid in urine has been neglected for long time.MethodWe examined β amyloid proteins in urine from cognitive normal and dementia patients including Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) using Western blotting.ResultSeveral protein fragments were identified including the 12KD and 14KD bands recognized by the anti‐APP C‐termini antibody (Ab369), 14KD and 28KD bands by W0‐2 (Figure 1), and 28KD, 56KD and 68KD bands by Aducanumab (Figure 2) and anti‐APP N‐termini antibody (22C11). Further analysis with immunoprecipitation and mass spectrometry confirmed the presence of various APP fragments and Aß in urine. One type of peptide was found to have high affinity to Aß and APP fragments using microscale thermophoresis and circular dichroism spectroscopy. With the assistance from AIBL, we further invented a lateral flow immunoassay device with colloidal gold nanoparticles coated with anti‐APP/Aß antibodies. In the early clinical trials with aged people and children, 95% of dementia patients, 90% of MCI, 85% of SMC showed positivity while 90% of healthy children were negative. The second quality examination was performed in Oriental (Dongfeng) Hospital (Pudong, Shanghai) in Mar‐June 2022. The examination of detection limit, critical threshold, repeatability, tolerance to interferences (creatinine, protein, glucose, nitrites, pH) was performed and all passed. Furthermore, 43 of 49 cases showed positive (87.7%) while only 1 out of 30 controls was positive (3.3%). Since then, the device has been tested in a dozen of large hospitals and pathology laboratories in China, all provided positive feedback. The preliminary results from 175 AIBL participants showed overall 83.8% positivity to clinically diagnosed MCI (n = 37), while for those Aβ PET scan negative MCI (n = 17), positivity was 94.1% (Figure 3).ConclusionOur results indicates the high accuracy of this device, which has high potential to be used as an early screening tool for MCI and dementia. The longitudinal studies are currently undergoing in China (Xiangya Hospital) and in Australia (AIBL).

Quality of life Related to Oral Health for School Age Children with Dental Caries

Quality of life Related to Oral Health for School Age Children with Dental Caries

Investigating the efficiency of air-source heat pumps in the secondary school physics laboratory

This paper presents an experimental method for investigating the coefficient of performance of air-source heat pumps for secondary age children and links this to ideas about energy efficiency. It was developed and trialled in a secondary school in the West Midlands of England in response to literature that reveals climate anxiety to be increasing amongst young people around the world and their resulting desire to take action. Links are made to the topic of energy efficiency in the current physics school curriculum in England which is used, where possible, to explain the results of the investigation with suggestions for where extensions might be made in future to facilitate a more complete understanding by pupils. Links to wider societal change in the decarbonisation of home heating in the UK as part of the national response to climate change are explored and an argument is made for the viability and necessity of including the technology of air-source heats pumps in the physics curriculum for all children.